Aircraft was issued an inappropriate clearance.

Attributes
ACN	124037
Time
Date	198910
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mgw
State Reference	WV
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : mgw
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Small Transport
Flight Phase	ground : holding
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	ground : holding
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
ASRS Report	124037
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : unspecified

Narrative:

I work at a VFR tower. At XA20 I was given the following clearance from ckb approach for reply to an aircraft at mgw: 'dca, fly runway heading, vectors for climb'. No more information on route. I asked for route after vector and approach controller became irate but reread clearance: 'dca as filed, after departure runway heading', etc. On the very next aircraft, approach control issued the following clearance: 'as filed, via takeoff heading 240 vector for climb', no other information on route. I simply read this verbatim to the aircraft who accepted it per 7110.65 para 4-13. I did not wish to argue with approach as on previous operation, however, I questioned if the clearance was correct. I did ask pilot his interpretation and he said he assumed after the vector he was cleared as filed. I am under the impression that as filed must be stated per 7110.65 para 4-22. If nothing is stated, I thought that meant 'via direct'. At any rate, I interpret both 7110.65 para 4-10d and 4-21d as requiring a route of flight. Is it my responsibility to require these items, or am I to relay the clearance 'verbatim' regardless of content?

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACFT WAS ISSUED AN INAPPROPRIATE CLRNC.

Narrative: I WORK AT A VFR TWR. AT XA20 I WAS GIVEN THE FOLLOWING CLRNC FROM CKB APCH FOR REPLY TO AN ACFT AT MGW: 'DCA, FLY RWY HDG, VECTORS FOR CLIMB'. NO MORE INFO ON ROUTE. I ASKED FOR ROUTE AFTER VECTOR AND APCH CTLR BECAME IRATE BUT REREAD CLRNC: 'DCA AS FILED, AFTER DEP RWY HDG', ETC. ON THE VERY NEXT ACFT, APCH CTL ISSUED THE FOLLOWING CLRNC: 'AS FILED, VIA TKOF HDG 240 VECTOR FOR CLIMB', NO OTHER INFO ON ROUTE. I SIMPLY READ THIS VERBATIM TO THE ACFT WHO ACCEPTED IT PER 7110.65 PARA 4-13. I DID NOT WISH TO ARGUE WITH APCH AS ON PREVIOUS OPERATION, HOWEVER, I QUESTIONED IF THE CLRNC WAS CORRECT. I DID ASK PLT HIS INTERPRETATION AND HE SAID HE ASSUMED AFTER THE VECTOR HE WAS CLRED AS FILED. I AM UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT AS FILED MUST BE STATED PER 7110.65 PARA 4-22. IF NOTHING IS STATED, I THOUGHT THAT MEANT 'VIA DIRECT'. AT ANY RATE, I INTERPRET BOTH 7110.65 PARA 4-10D AND 4-21D AS REQUIRING A ROUTE OF FLT. IS IT MY RESPONSIBILITY TO REQUIRE THESE ITEMS, OR AM I TO RELAY THE CLRNC 'VERBATIM' REGARDLESS OF CONTENT?

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.